Book Review: The Spoils of Eden

When my friend Jill Hart of CWAHM.com sent out an email asking for people to renew Linda Lee Chaikin's book, The Spoils of Eden, from Moody Publishers, I jumped at the chance. I love fiction and am an avid reader, so it seemed like a good fit.

Let me state up front that this is a historical romance and that is not my favorite genre. I personally prefer mystery and suspense, and the only historical era that interests me in fiction is the 1940's. So this book will probably receive a much better review from someone who absolutely loves this genre and this era.

The Spoils of Eden is set in 1891 Hawaii, an independent nation struggling with the possibility of becoming a state and ending its long history of monarchy. The heroine, Eden Derrington, is a young nurse who is determined to abandon the man she loves to help her father, a well-known doctor, fulfill his dream of starting a clinic on a leper colony. His goal is to assuage his guilt over Eden's mother acquiring leprosy while assisting him years before. Eden's goal is to finally get her father's attention. And she's willing to sacrifice everything to do so.

A sub-plot of the story, though touted as the plot itself on the publisher's review, is that Rafe Easton, Eden's estranged fiance, has acquired a young child, born of a leper, and plans to adopt him. Eden, on the other hand, is on a mission from the Hawaii Board of Health to send the baby to the leper colony where he legally belongs. The story is filled with battles of the will between Rafe and Eden, the Derrington patriach and other characters, and even Eden's own battles within.

Even when I receive a book free as I did this one, I am determined to give an honest review. And while I would like to say I fell in love with this book, I can't honestly say that. For the most part, it is well-written, but there are several instances where the author's presence becomes felt as she reverts to "telling" to give information rather than "showing," which is what fiction is about.

Having read dozens of books on writing well, and being that avid reader I mentioned, I'm the first to admit that I'm a critical reader. No book that interrupts my suspension of disbelief will ever receive five stars from me.

With that said, this is a decent book. For those who especially enjoy historical novels, this would be a good pick. The characters are well rounded and true to nature (though part of my problem, too, is that I'm not crazy about Eden—I think she needs to grow up and be a woman instead of trying to be "daddy's little girl," but that's another issue). And I do like the hero, Rafe. He's strong, dependable, and is a very likeable character.

All in all, I'd give the book three stars and add that if you do like historical fiction, and you can get past the historical facts interrupting the story, you might really enjoy this book.

Purchase The Spoils of Eden.

Book Review: Beguiled by Deanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand

Deanne Gist, the author of two previous books, and J. Mark Bertrand, awaiting publication of his first, met in a writer's critique group and jokingly spoke of collaborating on a book. Having sprung the idea of a joint book on Mark, Deanne fully expected him to resist the idea. But he jumped on the chance, and Beguiled was born.

This is the story of Rylee Monroe, a young woman who was raised by her now-senile grandmother after her father disappeared and her mother died suddenly of an overdose of sleeping pills. Desiring to give her "Nonie" the best care possible, Rylee starts her own business walking dogs and caring for the pets of the well-to-do, animals she loves and are who give her the only sense of "family" that she has.

When a thief, dubbed the Robin Hood burglar by the media, begins to target the homes of Rylee's clients, she becomes the prime suspect in the robberies. And it seems the only ones on her side are her attorney, a long-time family friend, and a reporter, Logan Woods... and she's not so sure about Logan. Does he really care, or is he just looking for a scoop?

Beguiled is exactly my kind of book! It has suspense, intrigue, romance, a strong yet vulnerable heroine and hero... all the things my favorite books contain. And while I received this book from Bethany House to review, it's exactly the kind I search for when I purchase a new book (which is often).

I've read every book by both Dee Henderson and Terri Blackstock—my two favorite authors—and I can only hope that the team of Gist and Bertrand become as prolific in their writing. I can assure you, I'll be buying every one of theirs as well.

This one gets Five Stars, hands down!

Purchase Beguiled.

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Book Review: The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher

The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher is part of the Ancient Practices Series, but it's actually the first of her books that I've read. It gives a different insight to communion than I typically study or even consider. That's not a bad thing!

Ms. Gallagher and I obviously come from different backgrounds, ecclesiastically, and probably theologically, however, there were many insights that she gave to the meaning of communion, or the Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper (depending on your ecclesiastical background) that I found interesting. She points out that this is a time of waiting on the Lord and listening for Him to speak, then receiving from Him, and afterward, even through the sense of "jet lag," letting the experience "seep in into [our] cells."

What Gallagher calls "practices," and this being but one of them, I have always considered "traditions," which is the term I find most Nazarenes use. I found I liked her term as well, because the traditions that we practice are what make us Christian.

If you'd like to have a deeper understanding of Communion, and of how it is a practice of the Church because it draws us closer to Christ, I'd definitely recommend The Sacred Meal. I have a few pastor friends I think should read it. If Communion is truly a practice—a tradition—of our faith, as are Baptism, Prayer, etc. then we need to better understand it. And I, personally, believe the Nazarene Church as a whole needs to place more emphasis on it. But that's for another post.

I'd give this one four stars!

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Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

When I received Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy by Nancy Leigh DeMoss free to review it for Moody Publishers, I expected it to be just another book about being thankful. But it's really so much more!

This is a book about being grateful in all things... not the happy blessings of life, but the hard-to-handle tragedies that we face. Not the "I'm thankful that you're teaching me through this, Lord," but "I'm thankful for this... for this sickness... for this financial ruin... for this...[insert your own tragedy here].

It's not something we want to even consider, let alone attempt to do.

But DeMoss shows us how tightly woven the theme of gratitude and giving thanks in all things is with the gospel message we love. And she helps us discover how we can be grateful and give thanks in all things.

Joni Eareckson Tada wrote the foreward in the book. And for someone who has faced the trials that she has to be able to recognize that God is bigger than our trials and heartaches--when her trials and heartaches seem so much more severe than mine!--I have to at least try to understand the message of this book. I don't know that I fully "get" it... but I see the need for it. I believe you will, too.

Definitely one worth reading.

Purchase Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy.

The Silent Gift by Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley

I received The Silent Gift by Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley from Bethany House to review, and I have to say, this was a hard book for me to read.

The writing is excellent, of course. The story is gripping, it draws you in and holds your attention. But the tragedy the characters face was more than I, personally, wanted to "live" through within its pages.

This is the story of a woman who almost drowns at the very moment of giving birth to her son, and because of that trauma, the boy is born unable to hear or speak. She learns, as he grows, that the boy has a special gift, however, and their saga begins.

What was so disturbing to me were the unbelievably harsh circumstances the characters were forced to endure. Just at the moment when it seemed as if things couldn't get worse, they did. There are times when a book imposes too much pain into my spirit, and that troubles me emotionally. This was one of those books.

It's a bittersweet story, some would say heartwarming. And of course, it's not hopeless. There are good things that happen in it. And God does prevail. It's just that the book haunted my spirit and it's not one I would choose to read again.

Purchase The Silent Gift.

Regret-Free Living by Stephen Arterburn

While I've heard of Stephen Arterburn for years, I have to admit that Regret-Free Living is the first of his books that I've read. Now, I've found a new author.

Expecting a dry, preachy discourse about "moving on," I was very pleasantly surprised to find this book laugh-out-loud funny in places and filled with practical ideas for living without regret.

Like everyone else, I've done things I would change if I could, but sadly, can't. Using examples from his own life, as well as illustrations from others, Arterburn reminds us that we're all in the same shape and that letting go of what we can't change makes for a much happier and more peaceful life.

The writing is honest and open, holding back none of--what I would consider--embarrassment or pain of past mistakes. That takes a lot of courage, which I admire. And to do so with humor, drives his point home without hitting us over the head with it.

Definitely worth the read. I give this one five stars!

(I received this book free as a reviewer for Bethany House.)

Purchase Regret-Free Living.

Knockout Entrepreneur by George Foreman with Ken Abraham

I didn't know much about George Foreman before I read this book, other than that he is a retired boxer, the person behind the George Foreman Grill, and has several sons all named George. After reading the Knockout Entrepreneur, I've decided he's someone I'd like to meet.

The book gives insight into Foreman the man by sharing details of his boxing career (he was the only boxer to become the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion for the second time at 45) as well as his experiences in business (not only did he create the George Foreman Grill, but he has a line of Casual Male clothing, a line of green cleaners, and he's been involved in many other business ventures) and that aspect of the book alone is worth the read. But there's much more!

Knockout Entrepreneur is filled with practical advice, encouragement, business insights and more to help entrepreneurs develop a winning mindset while maintaining integrity in all their business dealings.

The style is quick and easy to read. Ken Abraham who collaborated on the book, is a professional in his own right, having worked on ten New York Times best sellers.

Personally, I'd give Knockout Entrepreneur five stars and definitely recommend it.

Preview this book.
Purchase the Knockout Entrepreneur.